Textile yarn sizing apparatus and method



March 28, 1961 K. K. EDGAR TEXTILE YARN SIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 19, 1958 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. KENNETH K. EDGAR ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 K. K. EDGAR 2,976,600

TEXTILE YARN SIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PNEUMATIC. AH?

CONTROLLER 3 DEVICE INVENTOR. KENNETH K. EDGAR TEXTRE YARN SIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD Kenneth K. Edgar, 24 W. Prentiss Ave., Greenville, S.C.

Filed Aug. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 756,036

- Claims. (Cl. 28-28) This invention relates to an improvement in a textile machine for automatically controlling the size content of the yarn and the like treated therein.

, Present methods for controlling the percent sizing of yarn treated by a slasher and the like are most unsatisfactory in that they are expensive, time consuming, and ineifective. Such methods presently include sampling-the yarn being treated by cutting out a portion of the yarn upon completion of a loom beam and the like. This sample is then weighed and the sizing subsequently boiled out of the sample and the sample dried and again weighed. By thus obtaining the weight of the sample after treatment in the slasher and the weight of the sample after the sizing has been boiled out and with the sample in a dried condition, a calculation may be made to determine the percent sizing. It is apparent that this sample which is obtained at the end of the loom beam is not representative of the entire beam and that if the sample shows either too much or too little sizing, it is too late to make the adjustments necessary to correct the percent sizing. It is also apparent that this method of testing is time consuming and expensive from the standpoint of labor involved. It is impractical to obtain a sample other than at the end of the loom beam after the Warp yarns are fully wound thereon because of the necessity for cutting the warp and such sample is often not representative of the size content of the beam.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide improved means for controlling the percent sizing of yarn treated in a slasher and the like.

An important object of this invention is to provide slasher control means which are automatically operated for varying factors controlling the percent sizing on yarn passing therethrough for accurately controlling the percent sizing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slasher control which will maintain the percent sizing imparted to the yarn treated therein within defined limits automatically, accurately, and inexpensively.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control for a slasher and the like including electrical measuring means for measuring the weight of the yarn prior to its entry into the size box and another electrical measuring means for measuring the relative weight of the yarn after passing through the size imparting means and electrically operable means for utilizing the difference in this measurement for controlling means automatically adjusting components of the slasher and the like for varying the percent sizing imparted to the yarn treated therein.

Some of the methods provided to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein some illustrative examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

Y Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a slasher showing ice a device constructed in accordance with the present invention in operative position therewith,

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the size box of the slasher shown in Figure 1 showing schematically the parts of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention in position for use therewith,

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram showing an electrical circuit for operating the component of the device, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2, showing a device constructed in accordance with a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a slasher of any standard type having a creel section A for supplying yarn Y to the means imparting size to the yarn in the form of sizing apparatus B. The drying apparatus C dries the yarn Y after it passes through the sizing apparatus B preparatory to its being delivered to the usual headstock D. The components of the present illustrative embodiment of the invention includes electrical sensing means E which are located adjacent the yarn prior to its entry into the sizing apparatus and a second electrical sensing means F positioned closely adjacent the yarn after the yarn passes through the sizing apparatus so that standards of measurements which are a function of the weight of the yarn prior to sizing and after sizing may be obtained by the sensing means E and F. While the sensing means F is shown positioned adjacent the yarn Y immediately after the yarn passes through the drying apparatus C it is evident that the sensing means F could be positioned at any convenient position subsequent to its treatment in the size box 14 such as immediately prior to its delivery to the drying apparatus C. Suitable electrical means R are provided for utilizing the difference in relative weight'measurements for controlling means for varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn Y. Such means for varying the amount of sizing include suitable means for controlling the position of the immersion roll or the pressure exerted by the squeeze roll of the slasher and the like for varying the percent sizing of the yarn being treated in the slasher.

The various components set forth above will now be described in greater detail.

A plurality of section beams 16 are shown in Figure 1 carried by the usual creel frame 11 so that a desirable number of ends of yarn Y is fed over a pair of spaced guide rolls 12 and 13, respectively, and into the size box 14 of the sizing apparatus B. The electrical sensing means E includes a pair of spaced metal plates, to provide capacitance measuring means, positioned between the rolls 12 and 13. The yarn is fed under an immersion roll 15, of the usual type, and between a first pair of superposed squeeze rolls 16 and 17 and thence between a second pair of superposed squeeze rolls 18 and 19 and around the top of the main cylinder 20 of the dryer section C. The entire drying apparatus, including the main cylinder 20 is supported by the frame 21.

The sizing is normally applied to the yarn Y at an elevated temperature so that a hood 22 is provided for withdrawing steam produced by the sizing apparatus as well as another hood 23 for removing the steam produced at the main cylinder 20. The yarn Y passes around the main cylinder 2e and then to the smaller cylinder 24 which is also carried by the frame 21. The yarn Y then passes around the smaller cylinder 24 and through the electrical sensing means F which is shown positioned adjacent the yarn Y after the yarn has passed the drying stage C although a suitable measurement could be obtained with the sensing means F in any other desirable position subsequent to the passage of the yarn through the size box 14. The yarn Y then passes over a plurality Patented Mar. 28, 1961 The electrical sensing means E are-shown in Figure Z in the form of a pair of spaced condenser plates 34 and 35 each being supported by a suitable insulated bracket 36 carried by the size box frame 14. It should benoted that it is desirable that a substantial number of ends be utilized in determiningthe relative measure of the weight of the yarn prior to its passage into the sizing apparatus andthat preferably the electrical measuring means E bepositioned between the spaced guide rolls 12 and 13. This assures the measuring of a representative number of ends so that a true measure of the percent sizing may ultimately be obtained. 1

Referringparticularly to Figure 2, the yarn Y after passing between thecondenser plates 34 and 35 passes under the usual immersion roll 15 prior to its passage between the first pair of upper and lower squeeze rolls- 16 and 17, respectively. The upper squeeze roll is shown rotatably mounted in suitable bearing blocks 38 which are vertically adjustable in slots 39 within brackets 40 carried by the frame 14. The upper squeeze roll 16 is shown being urged downwardly in Figure l by the action of a pair of diaphragm chambers 41 and 42, respectively, through the shafts 41a and 42a. The diaphragm chambers 41 and 42 are mounted on brackets 41b and 42b, respectively, carried by brackets 40. if desirable, similar control could be exerted on squeeze rolls 18 and 19 which are similarly mounted. The pneumatic pressure in the diaphragm chambers 41 and 42, respectively, is controlled through the lines 41c and 420 which are supplied with air under pressure through the supply line 43 within which the pneumatic pressure is controlled as by suitable means described below which may receive its supply of air from a supply of air already located in the miil-or any other suitable source.

The means for controlling the pneumatic pressure Within the supply line 43 may be of any desirable type and is shown in Figure 2 schematically as being a pneumatic controller device R, shown schematically, which includes circuits for comparing unknown signals to known signals and causing pneumatic control action to take place in accordance with the deviation of the unknown signal from the known signal. Such a pneumatic controller device R is a Recording Pneumatic Controller (type No. 152?) supplied by Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This device R is controlled by the difference in the relative weight measurements of the uusized, and sized yarn. A suitable oscillator circuit (Figure 3), the resonant frequency of which is varied by the capacitance measuring means F, positioned adjacent the sized yarn after its passage through the size box 14, gives a capacitance measurement of sized yarn. Electrical energy is induced by a coil in the oscillator circuit into the coil of a suitable tank circuit, the resonant frequency of which is varied by the capacitance measuring means E, positioned adjacent the unsized yarn prior to its entry into the size box 14. Inductance in the tank circuit is then used to convey this electrical signal to the device R which automatically positions the squeeze rolls 16 and 17 on the size box to give the desired size pickup. This device R includes a pneumatic control unit which provides a pneumatic signal output to increase or decrease the pressure on the squeeze rolls. Devices of this kind are known generally in the trade as potentiometer recorder controllers which include null-balance circuits for comparing unknown signals to known signals and which provide a pneumaticoutput which is. proportional to the deviation of,the unknown signal to the known signal.

. Figure 3 showsa circuit diagram in which the electrie.

'4 cal measuring means E in the form of condenser plates 34 and 35 are electrically connected in parallel with the variable condensers 45 and 46. A coil $7 is connected in series with another coil 48 and this pair of series coils are connected in parallel with the condensers 45 and 46 as shown in Figure 3. The condenser plate 34 is connected to ground. These electrical components including the variable condensers 45 and 46 and the coils 47 and 48 comprise a tank circuit the resonant frequency of which is varied by the capacitance of the condenser E formed by the plates 34 and 35. The resonant frequency of this circuit may beadjusted by means of the variable condensers 45 and 46.

The electrical measuring means F includes the condenser plates 50 and 51 which are shown schematically in Figure l but which are similar to the previously described condenser plates 34 and 35. The condenser plates 50 and 51 form a part of a suitable oscillator circuit which includes a source of electrical energy in the form of a battery 52 which is connected on one pole thereof to the sensing plate 50 while the sensing plate 51 is connected to the grid of a vacuum tube 53 which is provided with a negative bias by the battery 54. The sensing plates 50 and 51 form a condenser connected in series with a primary coil 55. These components are connected in parallel with the parallel coil 56 and variable condenser 57 as shown in Figure 3.

This oscillator circuit is provided with suitable electrical shielding 58 and serves to induce electrical energy from the primary coil 55 into the secondary coil 47 of the tank circuit. The signal frequency of the tank circuit is transmittedthrough the coil 48 to the coil 59 of the pneumatic controller device R. The oscillator circuit and the tank circuit described above are so tuned that when a desired amount of sizing is being imparted to the yarn that the pneumatic controller device R simply maintains asupply of air at the desired constant pressure for the diaphragm chambers 41 and 42 so that the squeeze rolls 16 and 17 exert a suitable pressure on the yarn Y so that a desired predetermined amount of sizing is retained thereby. Should an excessive. amount of sizing be retained by the yarn Y, the pneumatic controller device R will automatically increase the pressure of the supply of air to the diaphragm chambers 41 and 42 so that the pressure exerted upon the yarn Y by the squeeze rolls 16 and 17 will be increased so. that less sizing will be retained by the yarn. Conversely, should less than the desired amount of sizing be retained by the yarn Y, the pneumatic controller device R will decrease the pressure of the supply of air to the diaphragm chambers 41 and 42 so that the pressure exerted upon the yarn Y by the squeeze rolls 16 and 17 will be decreased so that more sizing will be retained by the yarn.

Means varying the amount of sizing applied to the yarn includes not only the squeeze rolls but also the immersion roll and it is with the positioning of the immersion roll to vary the amount of size imparted to the yarn that the device constructed in accordance with a modified form of the invention described below is concerned. Figure 4 shows such modified form of the invention in which like parts are designated by like reference characters with prime notations added. The operation of the motor M is controlled by electrical elements similar to those described in connection with the operation of the pneumatic device with suitable modifications. The signal frequency of the tank circuit illustrated in Figure 3 is transmitted through its coil 48 to a coil 59' to actuate relay devices 1 and 2. If the correct amount of sizing is retained a standard current flows through the relays 1 and 2 which opens normally closed relay 2 but which isnot sulficient to close normally open relay 1. It too little sizing is retained a relatively low current flows through the, relays. 1 and 2 which allows relay 2 to close causing the motor M to run clockwise. isrretai'ned'v a. relatively high, current. flows throughthe If too much sizing;

relays 1 and 2 opening relay 2 and closing relay 1 causing the motor M to run counterclockwise. The motor M is shown turning a horizontal shaft 73 to turn a pair of threaded shafts 74 through suitable gearing indicated schematically as gear boxes 75. A bearing block 76 is threadably carried by each of the threaded shafts 74 and the immersion roll 15' is rotatably mounted in these bearing blocks 76 which are slidably carried by brackets 77. It is thus seen that the operation of the motor M through suitable gearing will raise and lower the immersion roll 15 responsive to the output of oscillator and tank circuits of the type described above.

At any given time should the electrical sensing means indicate that a desired amount of sizing is being retained by the yarn Y, the motor M will be inoperative and the immersion roll 15 will remain stationary. Should the amount of sizing retained become excessive, the motor will be operated upon by the sensing means to raise the immersion roll 15' to thus lessen the amount of sizing retained. Conversely, the immersion roll 15 will be lowered should the sensing means indicate a deficiency of sizing.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and changes and variations will occur of those skilled in the art which may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, means imparting size to the yarn, means varying the amount of size retained by the yarn, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, electrical measuring means providing a standard of weight measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the means imparting size to the yarn, electrical measuring means providing a standard of weight measurement for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage through the means imparting size to the yarn, means controlling said means varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn, and electrically operable means utilizing the difference in weight measurements actuating said means controlling said means varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

2. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, means imparting size to the yarn, means varying the amount of size retained by the yarn, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, capacitance measuring means providing a standard of capacitance measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the means imparting size to the yarn, capacitance measuring means for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage through the means imparting size to the yarn, means controlling said means varying the sizing retained by the yarn, and electrically operable means utilizing the difference in capacitance measurements actuating said means controlling said means varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

3. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, sizing apparatus, squeeze rolls, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, electrical measuring means providing a standard of electrical measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the sizing apparatus, electrical measuring means providing a standard of electrical measurement for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage through the sizing apparatus, means varying the pressure applied to the yarn by the squeeze rolls, and electrically operable means utilizing the difference in the standard of measurement for the sized yarn and the standard of measurement for the unsized yarn actuating said means varying the pressure applied to the yarn by the squeeze rolls thus varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

4. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, sizing apparatus, squeeze rolls, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, capacitance measuring means providing a standard of capacitance measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the sizing apparatus, capacitance measuring means providing a standard of capacitance measurement for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage through the sizing apparatus, pneumatic means varying the pressure applied tov the yarn by the squeeze rolls, and electrically operable means utilizing the diiference in capacitance measurements actuating said pneumatic means varying the pressure applied to the yarn by the squeeze rolls thus varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

5. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, sizing apparatus, an immersion roll, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, electrical measuring means providing a standard of electrical measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the sizing apparatus, electrical measuring means providing a standard of electrical measurement for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage,

through the sizing apparatus, means varying the position of the immersion roll, and electrically operable means utilizing the difference in the standard of measurement for the sized yarn and the standard of measurement for the unsized yarn actuating said means varying the position of the immersion roll thus varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

6. In a textile machine having means feeding a plurality of aligned ends of yarn therethrough, sizing apparatus, an immersion roll, and means taking the sized yarn up upon a loom beam and the like, the improvement including, capacitance measuring means providing a standard of capacitance measurement for unsized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn prior to the entry of the yarn into the sizing apparatus, capacitance measuring means providing a standard of measurement for the sized yarn positioned adjacent the yarn after passage through the sizing apparatus, mechanical means varying the position of the immersion roll, and electrically operable means utilizing the difference in capacitance measurements actuating said mechanical means varying the position of the immersion roll thus varying the amount 'of sizing retained by the yarn.

7. The method of controlling the amount of size retained by yarn treated in a slasher and the like having means varying the amount of sizing retained by the yarn including, electrically measuring the difference in weight of the sized yarn and unsized yarn, and utilizing this diflerence in weight measurement to control the means varying the amount of size retained by the yarn.

8. The method of controlling the amount of size retained by yarn treated in a slasher and the like having means varying the amount of size retained by the yarn including, electrically measuring the difference in the capacitance of the sized yarn and unsized yarn, and utilizing this difference in capacitance measurement to control the means varying the amount of size retained by the yarn.

9. The method of controlling the amount of size applied to yarn treated in a slasher and the like having squeeze rolls for varying the amount of size retained by the yarn including, electrically measuring the difference in the capacitance of the sized yarn and unsized yarn,

and ultilizing this ditference in capacitance measurementtOHCOHtIOI the pressure applied to the yarn by the squeeze re s.

10. The method of controlling the amount of size applied toyarn treated in a slasher, and the like having an immersion roll varying the amount of size retained by the yarn including, electrically measuring the difference in the capacitance of the sized yarn and unsized yarn, and utilizing this difference in capacitance measurement to control the position of the immersion roll thus controlling the amount of sizing retained by the yarn.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stephans- Dec. 20, 1938 Harris Nov. 18, 1941 Still Aug. 21, 1951 Still Apr. 20, 1954 Nimmons Jan. 25, 1955 

